Sep 21st, 2012

LAKE WALES – Edward W. Bok Academy will apply for Apple Distinguished Program status, after receiving an invitation from Apple’s Education Recognition Program.

“We are excited by this invitation, because it validates the investment of technology resources at Bok. We are working on our application now,” said Principal Damien Moses. The application is due Nov. 2.

According to Apple, the Education Recognition Program recognizes outstanding schools and programs that are centers of innovation, leadership and educational excellence, and demonstrate Apple’s vision of exemplary learning environments.

“This will be a great achievement for Bok Academy and the Lake Wales community,” said Superintendent Jesse Jackson. “We relied on many community partnerships to create Bok Academy, and our community partners helped us build the strong Bok technology program. This is a wonderful testimony to the power of those partnerships.”

Since its opening in Fall 2008, Bok Academy has emphasized the mission of “educating Renaissance thinkers for the digital age.” The school uses ever-changing technology to achieve its educational mission, including a broad range of Apple hardware and software.

“We are constantly striving to provide one-to-one access for our Bok students,” said Moses. “Technology is most effective when each student has individual access.”

Visitors to the campus see students and staff using a variety of technology: iPads, cameras, e-readers (the school has a virtual library), Promethean boards in classrooms, digital textbooks, flight simulator, EPOC headsets, and laptop and desktop computers.  In fact, Bok frequently hosts Apple “tours” and other educators who visit the campus looking for ideas that can be replicated at other schools.

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PHOTO #1: File photo of two Bok students using iPads to compute math angles (November 2011).

PHOTO #2: File photo of Bok student using a digital textbook on her iPad in math class. (March 2012).